Finally after singing about it so many times at Karaoke or sales conferences, I am finally here.

I am sure it affects everyone differently, but one thing must be consistent. It is massive in size, and the scope of things to do and see, almost becomes overwhelming. So I am not sure where to start, but here goes........

Our apartment is located on what I would call the "edge" of "edginess", close to cool and funky, but not far enough away from Dark and dubious. Turn the wrong street and you can find yourself in a community of duplicity. Andrew thankfully has the subway well figured out so we can plan our day trips, as there is so much to cover. Art, Broadway, Brooklym, historical sites, and thankfully all cuisines which we have missed coming from Italy where there is only pasta, pizza and seafood mostly cooked in olive oil

It took us a few days to get our bearings, and the day we landed in Times Square was probably the day I really felt like we were in New York. It was the day we stumbled on the Lego launch of the Yoda Chronicles. I posted photos on Facebook and a video, same again here. It was everything you would expect. Loud, noisy, over the top with music building the hype and then lifting the lid on a huge Lego building of the X-wing ......for those like me who don't have a clue, it's a spaceship. Andrew clarified the name of it for me!!

Then of course there is Broadway and all the stores you have seen so many times on shows like Sex in the City, and of course Macy's that had a 3 day Memorial Day Sale. OMG.....what can I say. My head is still spinning from the bargains.

Andrew was keen to see Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). It was on the tourist map and we were told a must see. I am afraid it was a bit wasted on me so we decided I was best to cut myself loose and go back to feast on all th stores we had passed on the way plus a few extras. Yes girls, it was that good!

New York we soon found out has many of hidden and small treasures you need to seek out like Rooftop movies, featuring short films shown on the top of buildings around the city

. We made th decision to go with some dubious feelings about what we were going to see, as the night was featuring "love and lost loves". However it rained so they showed the films inside a major hall with a local band leading leading the way. It was an interesting mix of eclectic of local and European made movies showing a strange artistic side of love and loves lost.....certainly made for good conversation later on. We did think of going to the free party afterwards but our jet lag was still making us pretty tired so we walked home happy to crash.

The weather started off awesome, but then made a quick change to wet and freezing. This then sparked a cold for me that is plaguing me at the moment. We have since tried to do the things we can without the weather spoiling it for us, the most recent being the World Trade Centre.. I can't begin to make sense of how this place affects you, it just does.It is beautifully done. You are conscious of the fact that many families of victims visit it as you would a cemetery. I was standing in the visitors centre where they show short films of stories about some of the victims, and how they have rebuilt theirs lives. It is overwhelmingly sad, but inspiring. One teenager in the store was talking to his friends saying he was 4 when his father died. His father worked at the Trade centre

. He said he remembers seeing it on TV, but due to his age made no connection to the loss of his father, although every year since he is constantly reminded of it. It brought tears to my eyes to think this young person will live with the memory of his fathers death alongside the rest of the world who remembers the event as the worst tragedy to hit America on their own turf. For me it stands out as the most dramatic and life changing event to happen in my lifetime. Andrew and I talked abut how he was in the US at the time of the event and how it had shaped his career in the army. Again we thank our lucky stars to have come through it relatively unscathed.

Back to the apartment and a quiet drink. A day out is an all emcompassing one, and we are finding between subway hopping, stairs, blocks upon blocks of walking we are shattered by the time we get home.

I'm hoping to shrug off the cold in readiness for our next adventure which is Memorial Day.

Comments

phil and helen
on May 28, 2013 at 09:14PM

Good to hear from you both. All well here....survived the baby sitting duties. In fact, now that they are older, it was fairly easy. Going back to Canberra in a couple of weeks while Sal goes to San Francisco
Enjoy the Big Apple, and thanks for staying in touch

Pam & Michael
on Jun 2, 2013 at 03:23AM

Glad you both are having a good time. Michael found a roof top bar that is near where we will be staying that looks good, if you have time check it out. It is called 230 Fifth (corner of 27th street and 5th avenue) it won the award for the best heated roof top bar and the photos and views are beautiful!! It might be cosy now that the weather has turned on you. xoxo